Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
On the surface, it seems like Jesus prescribed the way to obtain God’s forgiveness was by simply forgiving others. However, Jesus did not teach an additional or alternate method for acquiring forgiveness outside of trusting Him by faith for salvation.
Instead, Jesus addressed a heart issue.
Immediately before Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:14-15, He taught His listeners how to pray. Part of this model prayer included them asking God for forgiveness, having freely forgiven others themselves. It says, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).
The implication in this portion of the model prayer is that a right heart seeks God’s forgiveness with an understanding that their sins against Him are far more grievous, wicked, and numerous than those committed against them by others. Consequently, sinners seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness willfully and mercifully forgive others for their sins because they are minimal in comparison.
Therefore, according to Matthew 6:14 ("For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you”), those with this contrite heart are forgiven —not because they forgive others but because of their lowly, penitent heart before God. (See also Jesus’ Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14.)
On the contrary, an unmerciful sinner who refuses to forgive others for their minor offenses against them compared to their own atrocious sins against a holy and righteous God will not be forgiven. Or, as Matthew 6:15 says, “If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
These sinners remain unforgiven—not because they are unwilling to forgive others but because their hearts are arrogant, full of pride and self-righteousness, and unrepentant. They fail to understand their depraved condition before God and minimize their sinfulness while exaggerating the offenses of others. God does not forgive sinners in such a state, for as James 4:6 says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (See also Jesus’ Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35.)
I hope this brief summary of Matthew 6:14-15 helps you understand the meaning of Jesus’ words and explain it to those who question its purpose.
